AN Oxford MP has hit out at the 'shameful postcode lottery' over IVF for hopeful parents.
Layla Moran said she was disappointed that the Government has refused to make it mandatory for NHS trusts to offer three rounds of IVF up to the age of 40 – despite national NICE guidelines saying it should be.
The Oxford West and Abingdon MP raised the issue in Parliament after figures obtained by campaign group Fertility Fairness revealed that of 195 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England, seven have stopped offering IVF on the NHS entirely.
Oxfordshire CCG currently offers one cycle of IVF for all women under the age of 35.
Responding to Ms Moran, Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price said CCGs 'should have regard to the NICE guidelines' but went on to say that the Government has 'no such plans' to make the current guidelines compulsory in all areas.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here